Heading into Wednesday´s opening match in the Desert Diamond Cup, Chivas USA will square off against a familiar opponent on a familiar pitch. The Rojiblancos arrived in Tucson, Ariz. on Monday ahead of their meeting with host side FC Tucson to kick off the two-week tournament, three months since ending their 2013 campaign with a 1-0 loss to the USL side at the Kino Sports Complex.

The Red-and-White will get the chance to atone for the loss and position themselves atop the tournament standings, yet they say there is no revenge factor heading into the contest. Instead, the Goats enter the competition looking to stay unbeaten during preseason and continue gelling together under new Head Coach Wilmer Cabrera.

“We’re not worried about last year or anytime, we’re just trying to play tomorrow and take care of our task and continue with the preseason that we have,” said midfielder Eric Avila.

“It’s another preparation for us to get going and to get a feel for each other. Tucson is a good team. It’s going to be a good environment, it’s their home town and they’re going to come out and give us a good game.”

The Goats are coming off consecutive wins and enter the match with a boost in confidence after securing a 2-1 victory over MLS side the Colorado Rapids Sunday night in the Las Vegas ProSoccer Challenge. The comeback win proved that Cabrera’s club is capable of collecting results away from the StubHub Center and in front of a large crowd, which Avila, in his seventh year in the league and second with the Rebaño Angelino, says is key to preparing for regular-season matches.

“It’s important because you have all these friendlies and they’re nice, but when you get all the fans in and we put a little more pressure within ourselves, then it feels like a real game mentality.”

Securing a victory against the lone USL squad in the competition will be a vital starting point for Chivas to make a serious run at finishing the tournament in one of the top-two places to reach the title match. With the New England Revolution, Colorado, Real Salt Lake and Chicago Fire rounding out the pool of participants, there appear to be no point gimmes for the Goats.

The Red-and-White have already collected a win and tie against MLS competition so far in camp, and with three additional league opponents on the horizon during their stay in the Grand Canyon State, Chivas USA will surely be battle tested by the time their March 9 season opener arrives.

“The adaption is going really well. Preseason has been well organized and I think all the guys are buying into the system. It’s been the hard work from everyone that has us on the same page. So it’s working out,” Avila added.

For live updates during the matches and more information during preseason camp, follow the club on Twitter and Facebook.